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The P R E F A C E.
count of Pythagoras % Life, fuppofes him born a-
bont nine Tears after EzekicrV corning to Babylon,
and that Pythagoras himfelf came to Babylon at
eighteen Tears -, ofAge but there is no Proof that
ever he comerfed with Ezekiel. Though it ap-
pears by the Teftimony tf/Hcrmippus, in Jofcphus,
jib. i. cont. Appion. n. 22. that he had Conver-
fation withfo?ne]zv/s ; and learned Men have ob-
ferved, that there is great Refemblance between
feveral of his Symbols, andfome of the precepts
of the J ewifh Law.
But whatever became of Pythagoras, the Ac-
counts of whofe Life are very uncertain : It is
certain that Ezckiel, being at Babylon, directed
many of his Prophecies to his Fellow Exiles there,
whoj as St. Jerom obferves in his Preface to Eze-
kiel, repined at their Ill-Fortune, and thought
their Countrymen, who remained in Judea, in a
?nuch better Condition than themjelves. The 'Pro-
phet with Regard to thofe Circumftances fets be-
fore their Eyes that terrible Scene of Calamities
which God would bring upon Judea and Jemfa-
lem, which fhould end in the utter T^eftrutlion of
the City and Temple. He recounts the heinous Pro-
vocations of the Jews, which brought down thefe
heavy Judgments upon them, in ftrong and live-
ly Colours ;
his Stile exactly anfwering the Cha-
racter